Tool handle connection



Nov. 10, 1953 M. 2. ANDREWS TOOL HANDLE CONNECTION.

i iii Filed March 20, 1950 F IG.

[{{l/{IIIIIIIII $392- FIG. 3

"o D V INVENTOR. MICHAEL Z. ANDREWS Patented Nov. 10, 1953 STATES PATENT arsesoa root. nan-om; co NEcnoN Andrews, Ghulalista Calif-r aspirat n Mar hfi 5 seam-1.50m

My invention relates to a combination tool, more particularly to a tool which is adapted: for use in gardening or the like, and theobjects. of my invention are:

First, to provide a combination tool of this classv which may be readily and easilyemployed alternately as a hoeor a spade;

Second, to provide a combination tool of this class; which is very simple and easy to adjust and convert from one tool to another;

Third; to provide a. combination tool of this class which incorporates novel construction of the metal parts, all of which may be made of sheet metal, and tubular stock, with the exception of one. bolt, whereby an economical mass production article may bemade available to the public;

Fourth, to provide a combination tool of this class having a novel blade. structure, wherein a. loop neck portion. thereof is formed integral therewith, and is provided with corrugated notch portions, providing adjustment. about. the axis of the loop portion for converting the tool from one type of. tool to another, providing av tool having combined rigidity, strength and simplicity;

Fi th, to proyide a, tool of. this classwhich is very simple to fabricate andassemble;

. Sixth... to provide a toolor, this class which is a claims. (01. ne ro. )1.

very s ron and ri id in proportion. to. the amount cf-metal usedthere n; and r seventh, to provide a. combination. tool: of this class which is very simple and economical of con.- ruction... mcie t in operation, and which will not readily deteriorate or get out of order.

With these and other objects in view, as will appear hereinaften. my invention consists of certain. novel features of construction, combination and arrangement, of parts. and. portions, as, will be hereinafter described in detail and particularly setforth in the appended claims, reference be g s adi o h a pany n dr n and t the haravtsrs 0f refsrencettherco forming a Par of his application. in hich:

Fig. 1 is a top or plan view of the tool, showing the handle fragmentarily, and illustrating by dash lines a varying position of the blade for use as a shovel or the like; Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view, taken from the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a sectional view, taken from the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; and Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view, taken from the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Similar characters of reference refer to similar parts and portions throughout the several views of the drawings.

The blade I, yoke 2, bolts 3, blade locking bearing 4, ferrule 5, nut 6, pin 1, and the handle 8, constitute the principal partsand portions of my combination tool.

The blade I is made of sheet metal, and isprovided with a flat portion to, having a soil working edge lb and opposed to the spit working edge [b the blade I- is provided with a neck portion to, which is formed into a loop shape, which is channel-shaped in crossssection, as shown best in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings. This loop shaped neck la is: substantially arcuate, and theextended end portion Id thereof is preferably welded or otherwise rigidly fixed to the blade I all as; shown best in Fig. 2 of the drawings. It will benoted that the. neck portion lo is integral with the blade I., and the channel-shaped: in cross-section neck portion la is provided with a plurality. of laterally disposed. indented portions to, which are engageable. with the edge portions 4a-of the blade locking bearing 4. at the opening therein.

These. edges. 4a. define the edges of the opening in the blade-locking bearing 4, and arepreferably case-hardened, so. that they are durable, and the, notch portions le of the neck lc are preferably caseshardened', providing very strong; durable structure for locking the blade I in certain angular position relative to the handle 8', so that it will Withstand considerable hard usage. It will be noted that; the. blade locking. bearing It is sub: stantia ly circular, as shown in Fig. 3, and provided with a surrounding flange portion 4b,, which surtwnds the end of the ferr le 5. and; ex ends a ll th re e ierrq ct is. provid d wit a ap red rti n fiafitted ov r hehandl an his; tapered Portion. s ro nd the sn e nds o pin 1.. which x nd ough; he. ub lar no nto h ch the olt 3 s crewhreaded. as shown. in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The head; of; the. bolt} is reta ne hr the. yoke Z. which aten s .tca e s estne chamehsh ped.eor ion.9.. We neck Ic of the blade I. This yoke 2 is preferablymade f p ece o sheet met l. and at. its mid e portion is provided with an opening 2a, through which the bolt 3 extends. Opposite ends 2b and 2c are spot-welded together internally of the neck loop portion lc, all as shown best in Figs. 2 and 4 of the drawings.

As shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, the end portions 2b and 2c are provided with offset portions 2d and 2e, which engage the edges of the channel-shaped in cross-section loop neck Ic, providing firm engagement of the yoke 2 with the loop neck lc for holding the same in positive engaged relation with the blade locking bearing 4, which abuts the end of the ferrule 5, all as shown best in Figs. 2 and 4 of the drawings.

It will be here noted that the blade I is provided with a formed rib portion If, substantially at the middle thereof, aligning with the portion Id, Which straddles the same, for reinforcing the juncture of the channel-shaped in cross-section loop neck lc with the blade I.

The operation of my combination tool is substantially as follows:

7 When the tool is being used in the form of a hoe, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, it may be readily converted to a shovel, as indicated by dash lines A in Fig. 1 of the drawings, by rotating the handle 8 in a counter-clockwise direction relative to the blade I, which loosens the nut 6 on the bolt 3 and provides clearance of the edge portion 4a of the blade locking bearing 4 relative to prising a ferrule surrounding a portion of a handle and having a nut mounted internally of said ferrule, a cylinder having one exterior side thereof integral with a blade, said cylinder having serrations on a part of the circumference remote from the blade, a yoke member within said cylinder having arms extending radially outwardly therefrom and straddling said cylinder adjacent said serrations, a bolt having a head engaging the yoke and a shank threaded intosaid nut, a blade locking member secured to-the ferrule adjacent the cylinder and engaging said serrations when said nut and bolt are tightened relative to each other to hold the blade in fixed relationship.

2. A mounting means for a tool blade comprising a ferrule, a threaded nut recessed within said ferrule, a cylinder having one exterior side thereof integral with a blade, said cylinder having serthe lateral serrations le in the channel-shaped in cross-section loop neck lc of the blade I.

, Thus, the blade I is permitted to rotate into the dash line position A about the axis of the loop neck portion lc, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, until the blade I is substantially parallel to the axis of the handle 8. The handle 8 may then be rotated in a clockwise direction relative to the blade I, causing screw-threaded tightening of the bolt 3 in the nut E, which is retained by means of the pin 1 in the handle 8. It will be noted that as the nut 6 is tightened relative to the bolt 3, the blade locking bearing 4, at its edge portions 4a surrounding the central opening therein, engages the serrations le of the channel-shaped in cross-section loop neck lc, due to the tension created in the yoke 2 by the bolt 3. Axial bearing of the blade locking bearing 4 on the end of the ferrule 5 causes the tapered portion 5a thereof to be more tightly forced upon the end of the handle 8 in surrounding relation with opposite ends of the pin 1, which concurrently retainsthe nut 6 and the handle 8 in fixed relationship to each other.

It will be noted that the offset portions 2d and 26, shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, are arcuate, as illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings provide a conforming bearing relationship with the edges of the channel-shaped in cross-section loop neck lc for efficiently holding the serrations he in secure engaged relationship with the edge portion 4a of the central opening in the blade locking bearing 4.

Though I have shown and described a particurations on a part of the circumference remote from the blade, a yoke member within said cylinder having arms extending radially outwardly therefrom and straddling said cylinder adjacent said serrations and extending into said ferrule, .a bolt having a head held by said yoke and a shank threaded into said nut, a cup shaped blade looking member frictionally secured to the end of said ferrule adjacent said cylinder and having a rectangular aperture therein engaging said serrations on said cylinder when said nut and bolt are tightened relative, to each other to hold the blade in fixed relationship whereby said blade may be adjusted to a position parallel to said handle or at a right angle thereto.

3. A blade-handle mounting means comprising a handle-receiving ferrule, a nut mounted internally of said ferrule, a yoke member having an aperture therein and tabs adjacent thereto, a bolt having a shank extending through said aperture and held by said tabs, said shank being screw-threaded and received by said'nut, a hollow cylinder integral with a blade and having external serrations thereon remote from the blade, said yoke having bifurcated ends straddling said cylinder walls and said ends being secured together internally of said cylinder and intermediate the ends thereof, a blade locking member having a substantially rectangular opening being parallel to and engaging said serrations when said-bolt shank and said nut are threadably engaged, and said blade locking member having a downturned flange slidable over the end of said ferrule.

MICHAEL Z. ANDREWS.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 57,119 Glasson Aug 14, 1866 83,710 Hogan Nov. 3, 1868 288,046 French Nov. 6, 1883 688,153 Ayer Dec. 3, 1901 709,603 Larsen Sept. 23, 1902 1,148,561 Winn Aug. 3, 1915 

